Telefónica Tech has increased the number of connected IoT lines so far this year 240%, from 5,018 up to 17 million connected devices at the end of November. The company has maintained the first position in Spain in this type of lines since the end of summer, ending the third quarter with 12.3 million IoT lines after adding more than three million connected SIM cards in those three months.
Among the main drivers of this growth are the V16 connected beacons, which starting next January will replace emergency triangles in Spain as a danger pre-signaling element in the majority of motor vehicles. But also to the functions that IoT connectivity is offering to key sectors of the economy, such as health, industry and utilities. In the case of the latter, mainly in areas such as water or gas.
It is therefore a digital transformation movement in which, among other things, Telefónica Tech offers its IoT connectivity to more than 70% of the V16 beacon models certified by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). It also offers it to more than 1.5 million connected water meters, devices that are part of the digitalization of the urban water cycle in Spain.
Regarding the V16 beacons, the IoT connectivity provided by Telefónica Tech allows the geolocation of the vehicle stopped due to a breakdown or accident to be communicated securely, accurately and anonymously to the DGT platform. In this way, the General Directorate of Traffic will be able to notify the rest of the road users on which the vehicle is stopped of the existence of an incident.
Therefore, the marketing in Spain of connected beacons by Movistar is a prominent factor in promoting IoT lines. Especially in these last two months, given the proximity of the date of its obligation. The connected beacons can be purchased through Movistar, with the connectivity of an IoT SIM card at no additional cost valid for 12 years.
With respect to the water sector, IoT connectivity is connecting water consumption meters to enable automatic remote reading of consumption. Also to advance in predictive maintenance, early detection of leaks and move towards more sustainable consumption models.
As for the gas sector, thanks to smart technologies, its companies are managing to improve security in distribution networks, optimize real-time monitoring and reduce energy losses, among other advances.
Telefónica Tech also has a relevant position in the socio-health and industrial sectors. Among other things, the company is deploying non-invasive sensors in the homes of elderly or vulnerable people to identify anomalous behavior in advance, with the aim of being able to notify caregivers or emergency services when necessary.
In the industrial sector, IoT and other advanced technologies are allowing the different elements of a factory to be connected, to be able, for example, to advance in collaborative robotics, digital twins, industrial communications and computer vision. All to advance the optimization of processes and the reduction of carbon footprints, as well as to accelerate the transition towards industry 4.0.
